AP Photo/Steve Helber, FileFormer Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick awas conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and could play in regular season games as early as October.

Compassion for Vick

Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick was convicted of running a dog-fighting ring, certainly a horrific enterprise. He apparently did not have an ounce of compassion for the helpless dogs that were subjected to terrible and needless deaths. Animal lovers, and even those who consider themselves indifferent to dogs, were shocked and sickened by how these poor animals died.

Vick has finished his sentence and been reinstated by the NFL, although to date no team has picked him up.

Many comments about Vick charge he has not paid enough for his crime. Vick has also been criticized for his lack of genuine remorse. A lot of people feel he should not be able to resume his lucrative career.

Most people want compassion for animals that suffer. But aren't we sending a confusing message if we call for a higher level of compassion for animals, yet cannot find compassion or forgiveness for Vick?

Until such time that he proves otherwise, he deserves the same compassion we request for animals. This will prove where our hearts truly are.

Joe Dwyer, Nutley

Tough to enforce

I generally am in agreement with your editorials, but "Toughen driving fines" (Aug. 5), which supports a bill in the state Assembly and like the measure was not thoroughly thought through. The bill would fine a person for touching the GPS screen in a car.

The only problem is that in many new automobiles, the GPS is not the only device operated by the touch screen. Have you ever reached down and selected a different radio station while you were driving? Have you ever increased the fan speed of the air conditioner or heater while you were driving? In my car, the GPS controls do not function while I am driving, so I couldn't use them if I wanted to. But using the touch screen is the only way I can do any of the things mentioned above, along with many other functions.

Does it distract you more to touch a screen than to find a button and push it, or find a slider and slide it? I don't think so.

It would make more sense to have a national law requiring all manufacturers selling automobiles in the United States to block out the GPS controls while driving. But if a policeman sees me touching my screen, how can he tell whether I am programming my GPS or increasing the fan in my air conditioner? This would lead to an enforcement nightmare and a lot of wasted time in court for a lot of innocent people.

Dale Leppard, Morristown

Better health plan

I found it entertaining reading the article "Employers focus on health" in the Aug. 5 edition of The Star-Ledger, in which companies say they want to assist with special programs to help their employees stop smoking, lose weight and eat better.

While this may be a step in the right direction, the foremost need is for them to focus on lowering the employees' stress level by reducing the pressure to get done jobs that were previously performed by two or more people. It often results in eating lunch at the desk and working late, which results in poor eating habits and loss of sleep. These are truly health concerns.

I personally have experienced it and so have others within my family, and surely others out there as well. Were these issues addressed, the employers' health insurance would without a doubt be significantly reduced.

I know I am stupid to think this will ever happen since it would cut into yearly bonuses for their top executives, but I needed to get it off my chest.

Helga Cummins, East Hanover

Car welfare

I have a 2001 Kia Sephia that is no longer produced. It's wholesale value is $438. Even though it is not in the best condition, it is my only transportation. Because my Kia gets about 27 miles per gallon, I am not eligible for the cash-for-clunkers deal. But somehow, my taxes are subsidizing people who made a conscious choice to purchase a car that gets bad mileage. To me, this is car welfare. Once again the government rewards bad behavior.

The program is artificially and temporarily stimulating the economy. It is not really going to save a job, only prolong its loss. Dealerships will close anyway and no new jobs will be created.

Jack Turner, Lake Hopatcong

Program is a clunker

It makes absolutely no sense to offer up to $4,500 cash for clunkers when there are so many other industries that deserve equal treatment. Why not pay people to buy clothes, or refrigerators or furniture? Most manufacturing sectors are suffering as well.

But Congress will "double down" on its mistake by adding more of your tax dollars to pay for cars, many of which may not even be American. Wow, that is how I want my tax dollars to be spent. I am sure Japan loves this program.

Gerald Miller, Rutherford

Lacks common sense

The federal government's cash-for-clunkers program might be increasing car sales, but it lacks fiscal common sense. Can we still afford to be such a throwaway society when our country is so deep in debt? Can we really justify taking these perfectly good, used vehicles and crushing them?

Did no one in Congress consider making this program more cost-effective by selling these "gently used" cars to China to pay down our debt?

Or, perhaps we could come up with another plan to eliminate this waste of a precious resource. Could they be shipped to a developing third world country in place of billions of dollars in aid?
This program was not well thought out by Congress before it was hurriedly implemented. But then, perhaps no one in Washington read the bill before it was signed into law.